Moldovan president demands at UN rostrum full, unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from left bank of Dniester

Chisinau, 22 September /MOLDPRES/ - President Maia Sandu at UN rostrum on 21 September spoke about the future of Moldova in the European Union and demanded the full and unconditional withdrawal of the Russian troops from the left bank of Dniester, the presidential press service has reported.   

In her speech given at the 77th United Nations General Assembly, President Maia Sandu said that, through the signing of the application on accession to EU, Moldova had chosen democracy instead of autocracy, freedom instead of oppression, peace instead of the war and prosperity instead of poverty. Also, the head of state condemned the war started by Russia against Ukraine and expressed support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the neighbor country, as well as admiration for the Ukrainians who continue to fight for survival, justice and freedom.     

„I paid homage to all families of Moldovans who opened their homes and hearts for the tens of thousands of refugees who crossed our border. We have the moral duty to support Ukraine in continuation,’’ Maia Sandu said.  

At the UN rostrum, the Moldovan president stressed that Moldova knew what means a country divided by conflict, noting, in this context, the 1992 tragic war, the consequences of which are felt at present too. ‘’I expressed confidence that the only way for us to integrate the country is the peaceful dialogue and the observance of our sovereignty and territorial integrity and I reminded that the illegal presence of the Russian military in the Transnistrian region infringes the neutrality and increases the security risks. I demanded the full and unconditional withdrawal of the Russian troops from the left bank of Dniester and the destruction of the ammunitions stocked in Cobasna,’’ the head of state said.     

The Moldovan president also noted that the corruption phenomenon weakened the states and eroded the democracy. Maia Sandu called for more serious joint efforts to combat corruption, including through the creation of mechanisms of sanctioning internationally.   

„At the UN, I referred also tot our economic and social problems, fostered by the crisis through which we go. I emphasized that, despite the challenges, Moldova would continue advancing on the agenda of reforms to reform the justice, for improving the business environment and providing jobs, in order to improve the people’s living standards. At the same time, I voiced confidence that, before the major problems we are facing, the countries of the world must unite again. To reaffirm the value of peace and the inviolability of the human life, to defend the democracy and freedom, as well as to support the right of each country to decide on its own fate,’’ Maia Sandu also said at the United Nations.    

Photo: Presidency